Issue Brief #2
March 7, 2000

Electronic Warfare: Budget Concerns for a Future Defense Plan

             Last week, President Bush addressed the nation and presented Congress with his budget and new vision for governing the Nation.  Yet, his blueprint for the Department of Defense (DoD) has yet to be released and we await the details of the top-to-bottom review of our armed forces.  This modernization and transformation strategy is sure to challenge the status quo; however, it is imperative that enabling capabilities like Electronic Warfare (EW) receive renewed attention in the Bush Administration’s future defense plan.  EW increases aircraft survivability, ensures air superiority, and can significantly degrade our enemy’s capability to attack.  Simply, EW is an investment in our future force that Congress and DoD can no longer afford to overlook.

             Whether or not an overall increase in funding for EW programs is necessary, there are critical shortfalls and challenges in EW that need to be addressed in FY 2002.  Congress and DoD must address the need to modernize our EW low density/high demand (LD/HD) assets, such as the EA-6B Prowler, RC-135 Rivet Joint, F-16C/J, and AWACS.  LD/HD assets are force multipliers allowing the Services to do more with less.  Unfortunately, these assets are relics of a Cold War force and rapidly aging.  To minimize the risk to our armed forces, it is imperative that LD/HD assets are maintained at a high state of readiness and programs to address obsolescence, improved reliability, and increased warfighting capability are adequately funded.

 The Services also need greater coordination in outlining a joint EW strategy and funding critical EW programs.  As DoD moves toward warfighting capabilities that rely on information and communications technology, the Services need to work together to identify cross-service EW priorities that will unite their strengths and address their weaknesses.  I believe it is likely that the recommendations from the DoD review will emphasize joint, network centric warfighting programs and approaches.  I expect EW to be strongly supported by DoD’s transformation strategy, but Congress must follow through and support these EW programs as well.  One way to support this joint venture is for the Services to assign a single Joint EW office with budget jurisdiction for EW programs in all Services.

 The Air Force must continue its effort to revive its EW doctrine and organizational structure, and translate this into clear programmatic decisions that improve its EW and suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) mission capability.  Congress must also improve its accountability of both the Navy and Air Force to ensure EW shortfalls are addressed.  A recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entitled, Airborne Electronic Warfare: Issues for the 107^th Congress, can serve as an excellent starting point for Members of Congress in identifying and addressing EW shortfalls for both the Services.

 Congress and the Services must work together to pursue a balanced modernization and transformation strategy with regard to EW in FY 2002 and beyond.  We only need to look at the recent air campaign over Iraq to see the necessity of EW and that it is a cross-service mission.  Congress and DoD need to address it as such.  Until then, EW will lose out as it competes for DoD’s limited resources.

Joseph R. Pitts
Member of Congress

Electronic Warfare Working Group

Congressman Joe Pitts, Founder and Co-Chairman

420 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

202 225-2411 phone    202 225-2013 fax